Are You Committed?
Friends,
What is a commitment really? It typically involves dedicating ourselves in service of something “other” than ourselves, be that a goal, ideology, person, or project. Therefore, it is something that, by definition, limits our freedom. Obviously, we also believe that in exchange for that loss of freedom, we gain other worthy qualities that we cannot live without. Commitment rewards us with love, relationships, parks, justice, and a host of other incredibly valuable attributes of a life well-lived.
How did we arrive at this current state of confusion, anger, frustration, and division in our world? I believe that it has something to do with our collective commitment phobia, a shift that I have observed in the last decade or so. We have lost the art of, respect for, and the willingness to make real commitments. We have become a bit more transactional than relational. We have become more legal than spiritual. And we have become more about ME than WE.
One of my first supervisors and subsequently a colleague, mentor, and a dear friend, Charlie Bell, who left us way too early after a battle with cancer, had a colorful way of speaking that was only enriched by his thick Australian accent. When questioning my commitment to something, he often said to me: “Mats – are you asking this question as a pig or a chicken?” As a Swedish native, I first didn’t understand what he meant. He explained: “Like in a ham and egg sandwich, the pig is committed but the chicken is merely involved.” It made me laugh, but also helped me to locate the source my hesitations and produce a more thoughtful decision.
As the name of this blog indicates, I believe passionately in "human elevation". I find this to be true for our commitments as well. Our world has, amongst other things, become more secular. This has undoubtedly contributed to the decline of broad commitments to ideals way outside of ourselves. There is less peer pressure, less shame, and therefore more acceptance for committing to and believing in what you want. I think much of that "freedom" is, of course, very good. It's the basis of the Enlightenment. However, with gain there is always some pain. The "altitude" of our commitments have come down closer to us, and this has contributed to a more myopic, selfish, and divisive world. We must strike a balance between valuing the individual, while also maintaining a commitment to our communities at large. What are you committed to? Who are you committed to? What is it that helps you to put yourself in perspective? What are you willing to sacrifice on their behalf? These are the questions that we cannot lose sight of.
Love is perhaps the most obvious type of commitment most of us are happy to make. Lucky us! I was moved by a short documentary in NYT this week which told a poetic and beautiful love story that speaks volumes about the type of commitment that only LOVE can generate. You can watch it here.
I also want to make a push for two friends who came out with great books this past week. First, Juan Enriquez, who published RIGHT | WRONG - how Technology Transforms Our Ethics. It's a very thought-provoking and important book about how technology is changing ethics and ultimately how our public conversation must be more humble, more decent, and more open in order to bridge the black/white, left/right, divisive trench warfare we are in the midst of.
The second is by Monty Moran, who I was privileged to work with during my many years on the board of Chipotle. Monty was outside General Counsel, COO, and Co-COO, and his significant contributions helped build an incredible culture that saw units grow 20 times. His book Love Is Free - Guac Is Extra is packed with great stories and lessons for anyone who is interested in the most important leadership topic of all: how to build sustainable, vibrant, and self-reinforcing cultures.
Speaking of division, I found this story hopeful. It resonated with me and I found it to be aligned with my own experience. Americans are actually NOT as divided as the media makes us appear.
And finally, TED organized its COUNTDOWN last weekend with a packed agenda with many incredible speakers talking about our climate and what we can, and must, do about it. So far, I really liked THIS one about TREES. It's hopeful, truthful, and very actionable. I also thought Prince William did a good job of framing the task at hand.
So, as I continue my own commitment to helping make capitalism more human, more inclusive, and more sustainable, I also will continue to try my best to contribute to an elevated conversation where we can listen to more voices, learn from new perspectives, and be more comfortable discussing what seems uncomfortable. We can disagree without being disagreeable. That’s my commitment to you!
Have a great week!
